What steps can you take to get comfortable with being successful in your career AND being a parent? Is it even possible to do both, and do it well? Are you ready to let go of mom guilt and stop comparing yourself to others?

In this episode of the Heartful Parent Podcast, I’m talking about it all with Megan Whiteside. Megan is a friend, a colleague, and a remarkable mom of four who is breaking down barriers for women in the law field.  I invited Megan on today to share her inspiring story of bringing her infant to two national legal conferences. But that is not all you’re getting in this episode. 

Megan is unapologetically shattering norms and reshaping perceptions around working motherhood. She is sharing the importance of setting boundaries and finding the people who are “her people” while leaving the rest behind. Megan shares the importance of learning to name her core values and how thoughtwork was the big shift she needed to start finding fulfillment in both motherhood and her professional life––at the same time.  

You will walk away from this episode feeling inspired and encouraged, and hopefully being able to find the same fulfillment that Megan shares. 

If you could use some help with your core values, I’d love to support you with some parent coaching or see you in The Heartful Parent Academy, where your Values Trio is one of the first things we work on. 

Resources:

whitesidelegal.com

Megan on LinkedIn @megan-whiteside

Megan on IG @momlifeandlaw

Megan on Facebook @momlifeandlaw

Whiteside Legal on Facebook @whitesidelegal

Megan’s full bio:

Megan Whiteside is an experienced DC and Maryland trial lawyer, mom of four, law firm owner, national speaker, tv legal analyst, and podcast host of Mom Life and Law. She is a passionate advocate for her clients, as well as for fellow moms in the legal profession. Megan believes that representing the victims of nursing home neglect and their surviving families is a great honor and a great responsibility. She uses her skills in the courtroom and her prior experience on the defense to gain a competitive advantage in her nursing home abuse and neglect cases. 

She currently serves as the co-chair of the Maryland Association for Justice’s Nursing Home Section. She is an active member of the American Association for Justice's Nursing Home Litigation Group and The Nursing Home Trial Lawyers Association Top 10. She has been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in Maryland and DC. Megan is also an active member of the Women’s Caucuses of the American Association for Justice, Maryland Association for Justice, and Trial Lawyers Association of Washington,

Hey there, Heartful Parent listeners! In today’s episode, we’re diving deep into a topic that touches every single part of our lives as parents, partners, and professionals—effective time management. Now, before you roll your eyes and think, “Oh no, not another time management talk,” trust me, you’ll want to stick around for this one.

Time management can feel like an impossible dream, right? I get it! We’re all juggling so much, and sometimes it seems like planning is just another thing we *don’t* have time for. But today’s episode brings a refreshing perspective that I think you’re going to love!

I had the pleasure of speaking with the amazing Megan Sumrell, the CEO and founder of The Pink Bee. Megan’s a wife, mom, and business owner who truly understands the chaos of juggling it all. What’s really special about her approach? She’s not your typical productivity guru—Megan’s all about practical, down-to-earth strategies that work for everyone, whether you’re the super-organized type or, like many of us, just trying to keep your head above water.

In our conversation, Megan shares her wisdom on how to achieve work-life harmony (not just balance!) through smart time management, organization, and productivity systems. Her tips are *so* relatable and actionable, and the best part? Megan is fun, real, and someone you’d totally want to grab a glass of wine with after a long day.

Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, working outside the home, or a grandparent, Megan’s advice is for everyone—even the busiest and most disorganized among us! 

Key Takeaways:

• Time management isn’t one-size-fits-all – Megan shares how her approach adapts to different lifestyles and needs, making it accessible for everyone.
• Work-life harmony vs. balance – Megan explains the difference and why harmony is the goal.
• Practical, doable tips – From systems that simplify your day to productivity hacks that even the busiest person can adopt.
• Fun and relatable – Megan’s tips are realistic, grounded, and honestly just fun to hear!

Thanks for tuning in! I hope you enjoyed this conversation as much as I did. If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review—we love hearing from you. And as always, take care and keep being the heartful parent you are! 

Cheers, Christy

 Links Mentioned:

Plan a Palooza | Time Management for Creatives | Free Training to TOP Program

https://www.megansumrell.com/a/2147912766/vtLAFmeT

Follow Us:

https://theheartfulparent.com/heartful-parent-academy/

 Facebook: @theheartfulparent

Instagram @theheartfulparent

Subscribe & Leave a Review: Don’t forget to subscribe to The Heartful Parent Podcast and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!

Stay tuned for more Heartful conversations on parenting, love, and inclusivity. Thank you for listening!

I'm thrilled to share an insightful interview with Lenore Skenazy, originally conducted for the 2023 Safe Parenting Summit. Lenore, the author of *Free Range Kids* and founder of the Let Grow Foundation, discusses the importance of fostering children's independence.

Last week, I talked about helping kids grow their confidence and competence. Reflecting on a recent airport incident where my daughter wasn't allowed to fly alone, I thought of this conversation. Lenore and I explore why we should stop fear-based parenting and allow our children to develop resilience and problem-solving skills.

Whether you've heard it before or it's your first time, this interview is packed with valuable insights. Enjoy and thanks for joining me!

 During our conversation we discuss:

• The Importance of childhood Independence

• Cultural shifts and Parenting Anxiety

• Balancing Safety and Autonomy

• Redefining Intelligence and Encouraging Practical Skills

• Impact of Technology on Parenting

• Promoting Independence through Let Grow

 Tune in to hear Lenore Skenazy’s inspiring insights and practical advice on fostering childhood independence. Discover how giving children the freedom to explore can contribute to their growth and well-being, helping them become resilient and confident individuals.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Connect with Lenore https://www.freerangekids.com/

Let Grow https://letgrow.org/

Subscribe & Leave a Review: Don’t forget to subscribe to The Heartful Parent Podcast and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!

Stay tuned for more Heartful conversations on parenting, love, and inclusivity. Thank you for listening!

To help kids become more independent, it's great to encourage their autonomy, give them responsibilities, and offer meaningful encouragement. Things like sleepaway camps and job roles can really boost their confidence and resilience, setting them up for future success.

Just recently, my daughter went to sleepaway camp, and I've got a funny story to share about her experience getting there. We’ll also be chatting about various ways you can help your children build their competence, capability, and confidence.

In this episode you’ll learn:

2:34 Story time from my own life

12:06 The impact of parenting on children's confidence

14:01 The problem lies with adults

15:02 Suggestions for building kids' confidence

29:24 The significance of fostering independence

33:31 Suggestions for building life skills in kids

41:44 The larger purpose behind parenting strategies

46:48 Let's do better in our own homes

Subscribe & Leave a Review: Don’t forget to subscribe to The Heartful Parent Podcast and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!

Stay tuned for more Heartful conversations on parenting, love, and inclusivity. Thank you for listening!

Today, we're diving into a really important topic: the impact of pornography on children. We've got two amazing guests with us, Amy Lang and Casey O'Roarty, to help unpack this.

We're seeing some worrying trends with kids being exposed to explicit content online, and it's more important than ever for parents to step in and have open, honest conversations. We'll talk about the role of proactive parenting and the neurological effects of pornography on young minds. 

Plus, we'll discuss the importance of teaching kids about consent and critical thinking to counter harmful stereotypes.

Our chat also touches on the broader societal implications, encouraging parents to have conversations that align with their personal values. We'll highlight the need for ongoing monitoring and filtering of online content, and we'll inspire parents to take action in fostering healthy relationships and tackling tough topics like pornography with joyful courage.

In this episode you’ll learn:

0:00 Introduction

13:53 Hidden Pornography

20:19 Impact of Brain Development

22:51 Breaking the "Not My Kid" Mentality

25:59 Initiating Conversations about Pornography

31:45 Shifting Perspectives: Pornography Consumers

35:00 The Role of Parents to Protect their Child

36:34 Connecting Pornography to Transactional Sex

46:42 Final Thought on Pornography and Kids

Links Mentioned in this Episode: 

Casey O’Roarty

Joyful Courage Podcast

besproutable.com/teens

www.facebook.com/joyfulcourage

IG - @joyful_courage

Amy Lang

Birds+Bees+Kids Podcast

birdsandbeesandkids.com

www.facebook.com/birdsbeeskids

IG - @birdsandbeeskids

Subscribe & Leave a Review: Don’t forget to subscribe to The Heartful Parent Podcast and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!

Stay tuned for more Heartful conversations on parenting, love, and inclusivity. Thank you for listening!

Hi Friends, 

If you've listened to the podcast for any period of time, you've heard me talk about positive discipline and relationship and the importance of parenting in a different way than we were likely parented and we're going to dig into that and even more detail today with my guest, who I'm so thrilled to introduce you to Reem Raouda

Reem is a certified conscious parenting coach certified through Dr. Shafali Sabari's program, and she is the parent of a strong willed child and the founder of the Connected Discipline Method, which is a coaching program for parents of strong willed children. And what she and I really dig into in this conversation is discipline and what does discipline look like when we are not coming at parenting from an authoritarian sort of traditional approach, but what, how we do it or what discipline looks like, how we think about discipline when we are being more conscious, intentional, gentle, positive parents.

In this episode you’ll learn

0:27 Introduction to Positive Parenting

1:23 Reimagining Discipline

6:37 Common Parenting Mistakes

10:58 The Importance of Connection

20:37 Adjusting expectations and Tone

30:25 Understanding Children’s Capacities

34:53 Nurturing Environments for Growth

Links Mentioned in this Episode: 

Follow Reem Raouda: 

Website:  https://www.highloveparenting.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/highloveparenting

Subscribe & Leave a Review: Don’t forget to subscribe to The Heartful Parent Podcast and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!

Stay tuned for more Heartful conversations on parenting, love, and inclusivity. Thank you for listening!

Whether you are the parent of an LGBTQIA+ kiddo or you don’t know yet whether or not you are the parent of an LGBTQIA+ kiddo, or you have an LGBTQIA+ family member, neighbor, friend, or colleague you’re going to want to tune into today’s episode. 

I’m talking with Susan Cottrell. Susan is an international speaker and passionate advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community. Susan shares her personal journey of accepting and supporting her LGBTQ children, despite the conservative teachings of her evangelical church. She discusses how her deep faith led her to deconstruct harmful religious teachings and embrace values of love, empathy, compassion, inclusion, justice, and kindness.

You’ll Learn: 

0:27 Introduction to Today's Issue

1:47 Susan's Faith Journey

11:53 Deconstructing Faith

24:13 Importance of Pride Month

29:19 Engaging in Productive Conversations

31:53 Love Your Neighbor Principle

35:25 Reasonable Approach to Acceptance

40:42 Starting the Deconstructing Process

45:12 Bible as a Story, Not a Rule Book

46:09 Bible as a Vehicle for Oppression

47:06 Spreading Radical Love

47:51 Conclusion and Gratitude

Thank you so much for being with me today and for listening to this conversation. I know religion is not something I typically dive into on The Heartful Parent Podcast, but I felt like this was a conversation that was worth having here during Pride Month, and just in general as we, as those of use who do choose to love unconditionally and unequivocally work to protect all of us who are LGBTQIA+ from being vilified and being scapegoated as we move forward in the year 2024 and beyond. 

And let us know how you’re celebrating Pride Month where you live!

Links Mentioned in this Episode: 

Follow Susan Cottrell:

• https://www.freedhearts.org/

• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freedhearts/id1533444664

• https://www.youtube.com/stcottrell

• https://www.instagram.com/freedheart

Subscribe & Leave a Review: Don’t forget to subscribe to The Heartful Parent Podcast and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!

Stay tuned for more Heartful conversations on parenting, love, and inclusivity. Thank you for listening!

Hey everyone! Welcome to The Heartful Parent Podcast. Today, we have an amazing episode lined up with the incredible Yolanda Williams, a conscious parenting coach and social justice instructor.

We dive into the world of conscious parenting and talk about how we can raise socially aware kids through meaningful conversations about race and privilege.

Yolanda will be sharing her personal journey and discussing why inclusivity is so crucial in parenting spaces, especially after the tragic events surrounding George Floyd's murder.

Wel chat about the ups and downs of parenting, the importance of having open discussions about race with our children, and the ways society shapes our parenting experiences. You won't want to miss it!

You’ll Learn:

0:29 Introduction

3:36 Welcoming Yolanda Williams to the Podcast

4:13 Yolanda’s Journey to Parenting Decolonized

9:09 Reflections on Shifts Post- George Floyd’s Murder

12:47 The Shift from Gentle Parenting to Conscious Parenting

15:48 The Challenge of White Activism Fatigue

20:04 Urgency for While Parent Coaches to Address Race

23:18 Addressing Difficult Conversations on Police Brutality

23:55 The Essential Conversations

27:33 Revisiting Conscious Parenting

31:25 The True COnscious Parenting Approach

38:04 Embracing Freedom Through Feeling

40:10 From Surviving to Thriving

42:56 The Hardest Job with No Vacation

45:35 Making Real Systemic Changes

Connect with Yolanda:

https://www.instagram.com/prntgdcolonized/

https://parentingdecolonized.com

Join the Conversation:

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Share your experiences and connect with other parents in our community. Follow us on Instagram and use the hashtag #HeartfulParentPodcast to join the discussion.

Subscribe & Review:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us bring more heartful content to parents like you.

Tune in next week for another inspiring episode of The Heartful Parent Podcast!

Hey, friends and podcast listeners! Welcome back to another episode of the Heartful Parent Podcast. I'm so excited to be here with you today.

If you've been listening for a while, we don't just discuss parenting here. As I always say, we wear a lot of hats—we're people, partners, professionals, and so much more. That's why I love exploring various topics on the pod. 

This week, I'm particularly thrilled to introduce someone truly inspirational: my friend, colleague, mentor, and teacher, Kristi Rible. Kristi is the founder and CEO of The Human Group and is dedicated to humanizing the workplace by preparing leaders for a future that demands flexibility, empathy, trust, connection, and psychological safety. She champions a diverse, equitable, and inclusive representation of our collective humanity.

Kristi's international leadership experience spans over 25 years, covering technology and consumer products in public and startup ventures across the US, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. She is a fierce advocate for the advancement of women, which is how I met her through her Stanford course, "Motherhood and Work." She teaches an incredible class once a year, and it's open to continuing ed students. It is conducted remotely so that you can join from anywhere. 

Kristi holds an impressive array of credentials, including an MBA in International Business from Thunderbird and Arizona State University, a BA in African Studies and Classical Archaeology from Franklin and Marshall College, and Executive Certifications in Organizational Gender Balance from INSEAD, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Cornell, Executive Coaching from UC Berkeley, and the Fair Play Method.

In today's conversation, Kristi and I dive into the power of language, the modern movements and setbacks affecting parents, mothers, and women in particular, and so much more. I'm super excited to share this enlightening discussion with you. 

So, without further ado, let's dive into my conversation with Kristi Rible.

Connect with Kristi

https://www.thehuumangroup.com

https://www.kristirible.com

Join the Conversation:

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Share your experiences and connect with other parents in our community. Follow us on Instagram and use the hashtag #HeartfulParentPodcast to join the discussion.

Subscribe & Review:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us bring more heartful content to parents like you.

Tune in next week for another inspiring episode of The Heartful Parent Podcast!

Parenting in public can be HARD. Rachael Fritz, founder of Parenting on Mars, joins me and we discuss parenting in public spaces. Rachael, a mom of three and a former preschool teacher, brings her wealth of knowledge to the table, sharing practical tips and heartfelt advice for handling challenging parenting moments outside the home.

In This Episode:

• Maintaining Boundaries in Public: Rachael discusses the importance of sticking to your parenting values, even when others are watching. She shares strategies for being prepared and setting clear expectations with your kids.
• Generational Patterns and Triggers: We dive into the impact of our own upbringing on our parenting style. Rachael provides insight on recognizing and addressing these influences to become more mindful parents.
• Parenting Out Loud: Learn about the concept of parenting out loud, where open discussions with your children about decisions and actions can foster transparency and accountability.
• Dealing with Judgment: Rachael offers advice on handling criticism from family members and partners, emphasizing the need to stay true to your values rather than conforming to societal pressures.

Rachael’s candid insights and practical advice will leave you feeling empowered and ready to tackle parenting challenges with confidence.

Connect with Rachael:

• Website: Parenting on Mars
• Instagram: @ParentingOnMars
• Join the Conversation:

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Share your experiences and connect with other parents in our community. Follow us on Instagram and use the hashtag #HeartfulParentPodcast to join the discussion.

Subscribe & Review:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us bring more heartful content to parents like you.

Tune in next week for another inspiring episode of The Heartful Parent Podcast!

Today, I want to chat about something that might not be the picture-perfect family life we often imagine: divorce. We all envision a loving, committed partnership raising happy kids, but for many, that’s not the reality.

If you’re in a relationship that’s run its course or has turned negative, you might be wondering if staying for the kids is the right choice or how to move forward. I recently spoke with Kim Korven, who’s been through it all – a retired lawyer and judge, mom, divorcee, and judo coach. Kim’s approach to divorce is different. She doesn’t treat it as just a legal issue. Instead, she helps parents see themselves as the CEOs of their families, using divorce as a tool to improve relationships and help everyone thrive, even in tough situations like dealing with coercive control, narcissism, or mental health challenges.

We talked about:

• Kim’s own divorce journey and how she kept her kids' well-being front and center.
• The real impact of divorce on kids and how to create a healthy environment for them, even if it means ending a bad relationship.
• Tips for communicating with a partner who might not be on the same page.
• Making choices that honor everyone’s well-being. Divorce isn’t ideal, but sometimes it’s necessary. 

Divorce isn’t ideal, but sometimes it’s necessary. Our conversation with Kim is packed with insights on how to navigate this tough time with your kids’ best interests at heart and maintain healthy communication. Even if divorce isn’t on your horizon, there’s a lot here about relationships and communication that can benefit anyone.

If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with anyone who might need Kim’s wisdom. New episodes drop every Tuesday. Until next time, stay heartful and intentional in your parenting and relationships.

Cheers,

Christy

Links & Resources Mentioned in this episode:

Kim Korven’s YouTube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiHQSHzsPT9S2AzOC8EIaRA

Flow Chart for Amicable Divorce: https://www.kimkorven.com/free-gift

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/theheartfulparent

Hey there, Heartful Parent podcast fam! Welcome back to another enriching episode of the Heartful Parent podcast. And to our newcomers, a warm welcome! Whether you discovered us through the recent Safe Parenting Summit or stumbled upon us by chance, I'm truly grateful for your presence and excited to dive into today's conversation.

 Parenthood, partnerships, and our professional endeavors—they all weave together to shape who we are. Today's guest, Uwe Dockhorn, embodies this holistic approach to life.

 Hailing from Germany, Uwe is not just a mental health advocate and executive coach; he's the mastermind behind the AIM Experience—a coaching program tailored for busy executives and their VIPs (Very Important Partners). With over 17,000 sessions under his belt across three continents, Uwe's three-part coaching model has proven its effectiveness in reigniting career momentum while fostering joy and intimacy at home.

 In our conversation, Uwe opens up about a deeply personal journey that illuminated the importance of simultaneously releasing the past and embracing new opportunities—a lesson we can all learn from. We delve into the profound wisdom of finding balance and how it can propel us forward in both our professional and personal lives.

 Uwe shares insights on how his coaching empowers clients to not only excel in their careers but also cultivate thriving relationships at home. From reigniting passion to navigating challenging seasons, his approach offers a roadmap to rediscovering joy and connection.

 Whether you're seeking career advancement or longing to deepen your bond with your partner, there's hope, and Uwe's wisdom serves as a guiding light on this journey.

 Connect with Uwe: https://www.uwedockhorn.com/

 And if you are in need of parenting support, please reach out to me at 

christy@theheartfulparent.com or find me at theheartfulparent.com.

Hi friends! Welcome back to the Heartful Parent Podcast. This week, we’re diving into an important but tough topic: child safety. Specifically, we’re discussing child sexual abuse in educational settings. As parents, grandparents, and loved ones, it’s our responsibility to ensure kids grow up brain and body safe.

This episode might be triggering for some of you, especially if this is part of your history. If that’s the case, please take care of your heart. Pause or come back when you're ready. Also, this episode isn't suitable for little ears, so if kids are around, come back to it later. If you're co-parenting, consider listening with your partner so you’re both aligned on this critical topic.

I’m honored to have Rosalia Rivera with us today. She’s a consent and child sexual abuse prevention specialist, speaker, and co-founder of the BRAVE Movement. Rosalia’s insights offer practical, empowering steps to help us protect our children and move from fear to action.

Without further ado, let’s get started!

Key Takeaways:

• How to protect kids from educator sexual misconduct

• Moving from fear to empowerment as a parent

• Practical steps to ensure kids are both brain and body safe

Resources Mentioned:

• Rosalia Rivera’s work: Consent Parenting https://www.consentparenting.com

• About Consent podcast

Thanks for joining me today! If this episode was helpful, please share it and subscribe for more. Stay safe, and see you next week!

Follow Us:

https://theheartfulparent.com/heartful-parent-academy/

Facebook: @theheartfulparent

Instagram @theheartfulparent

Subscribe & Leave a Review: Don’t forget to subscribe to The Heartful Parent Podcast and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!

Stay tuned for more Heartful conversations on parenting, love, and inclusivity. Thank you for listening!

Hey there, lovely listeners! Get ready for another episode of the The Heartful Parent Podcast. Today, we're joined by Trunnis Goggins, a parent, educator, and all-around awesome human being.

 After the devastation of losing his oldest daughter, Trunnis slipped into a world of confusion and darkness. However, with soul-searching, he was able to rediscover his purpose and strive to help others deal with challenging and tragic situations arising from parenting and quite frankly everyday life. Trunnis now lives in Asheville North Carolina and is privileged to be with his oldest grandson who lost his mother the same time Trunnis lost his daughter.

 Trunnis is pulling back the curtain on his journey through parenthood, sharing stories of raising a big family, navigating loss, and finding strength through it all. He's all about communication, teamwork, and embracing each child's unique path in life.

 As Trunnis dives into his "Four P's" – purpose, planning, passion, and persistence – he dishes out some real talk about parenting. From coaching hockey to guiding his own kids and grandkids, he's learned that it's all about rolling with the punches and never giving up.

 Throughout our chat, Trunnis emphasizes the importance of creating open spaces for emotions and fostering togetherness within the family. And hey, if you're hungry for more of Trunnis's wisdom, head over to his website for even more insights and inspiration.

 And if you are in need of parenting support, please reach out to me at christy@theheartfulparent.com or find me at theheartfulparent.com.

Connect with Trunnis

 https://www.the4pspodcast.com/

Have you ever been so distracted by your phone that you’ve missed important moments in your child’s life?

 Today’s guest knows just what that feels like. Joey Odom joins me to talk about phone distraction and how it impacts our children’s lives. 

 Joey missed his son’s first soccer goal because he was looking at his phone, he had a realization: his phone was getting in the way of his best intentions as a Dad and husband. Since then, he has been on a journey to change his relationship with his phone so that he can change his most important relationships in life. He and friend, fellow Dad, and co-founder, Heath Wilson (co-founder of eVestment, a NASDAQ company), started Aro to help create a new generation of intentional families. Since launching in October 2022, Aro has been adopted by thousands of families across the country, helping parents model healthy habits for their kids, be more present with their families, and set their kids up for success with technology.

 During our conversation we talked about:

• Setting boundaries and prioritizing face-to-face interactions.
• Tips for modeling positive behavior for children.
• Balancing screens and connections in modern parenting.
• Strategies for intentional parenting amidst digital distractions

 So, grab your favorite beverage, settle in, and join us as we explore the intersection of technology and family life on this journey toward intentional parenting in the digital age.

 And to learn more about Aro visit https://www.goaro.com/

 Cheers,

Christy

Hey Heartful Parents,

As we wrap up April, I wanted to share a fun topic: Using Music in Parenting. Today’s guest, Samantha Foote is a board-certified music therapist that explores the transformative role of music in parenting. 

During our conversation we talk about:

• Crafting emotion-based songs using GarageBand
• Creating playlists for different emotion states
• Using Drum talks to facilitate non-verbal communication

Samantha also focuses on how the power of music can ease transition between activities and connecting with neurodivergent children. 

Throughout the conversation, Samantha discusses the importance of prioritizing connection over correction in parenting. Her personal stories underscore the profound impact music can have on fostering emotional awareness and family harmony. 

For more insights and resources, visit Samantha's website, https://www.boisemusictherapycompany.com/ and tune in to her podcast, "Every Brain is Different." 

Cheers,

Christy

P.S. And don’t miss out there’s still time to register for The Safe Parenting Summit! You can sign up here: https://thesafeparentingsummit.com

 This FREE virtual summit is your chance to gain valuable knowledge, connect with like-minded parents, and elevate your parenting game!

Hey Heartful Parents,

Today, I've got a guest on the show who's tackling a topic that's not always easy to talk about—pornography. Yep, I said it. It's a subject that often gets swept under the rug, especially when it comes to conversations with our kids or within our own relationships.

Let's face it, discussing porn can be uncomfortable, even controversial. But here's the thing: when we dig into the facts, the evidence, the science, things start to become clearer. And that's exactly what we're going to do today.

So, let me introduce you to our guest, Parker Hymas. Parker is with an organization called Fight the New Drug, a nonprofit that's all about raising awareness on the harmful effects of pornography using science, facts, and real-life stories.

Parker's got a knack for connecting with people and driving positive change. With his background in communications and his passion for community engagement, he's been spreading the word about Fight the New Drug to audiences far and wide.

I've been following the incredible work of Fight the New Drug for a while now, so when Parker reached out to chat about it on the podcast, I was thrilled. Look, I get it—this topic can make some folks squirm, especially if they've used porn themselves. But here's the deal: no shame, no judgment. Just important conversations.

Whether it's talking to our kids or navigating the waters of adult relationships, these conversations matter. And Parker's here to shed some light on it all.

So, stick around, parents,  You're in for a thought-provoking discussion filled with insights and research that might just change the way you think about porn. 

Cheers, 

Christy

Register for the Safe Parenting Summit happening May 6-10th, 2024! https://thesafeparentingsummit.com/

Connect with Parker: 

https://www.facebook.com/fightthenewdrug

https://www.instagram.com/fightthenewdrug/

https://www.youtube.com/fightthenewdrug

https://twitter.com/fightthenewdrug

https://www.tiktok.com/@fightthenewdrug

Hey Parents,

When was the last time you read to your kids? 

You’re going to want to drop everything and listen to today’s episode all about fostering connections and breaking stereotypes through storytelling. 

I’m sitting down with the wonderful Bunmi Emenanjo and attorney, an entrepreneur, an author and my friend. And you may remember her from last year’s Safe Parenting Summit. 

Bunmi is going to share her journey growing up in Nigeria, where storytelling isn't just a pastime—it's a way of life. 

We chat about the incredible power of cultural storytelling and why it's so important for our kids to hear stories from all around the world. And trust me, she has some amazing insights to share!

But it's not all serious stuff. We'll also dive into the heartwarming tale behind Bunmi's own book, "I'll See You in Ijebu."  Get ready for a story that'll warm your heart and remind you of the joy of family connections.

Hopefully, this episode will leave you inspired and enthusiastic about reading to your kids, no matter how much time has passed (Even my teenager still likes me to read to her sometimes). I am grateful for your support each and every week and if you need support don’t hesitate to reach out. 

Cheers, 

Christy

You can grab Bunmi’s book “I’ll See You in Ijebu'' here. https://bookshop.org/p/books/i-ll-see-you-in-ijebu/18919449?ean=9781646868438

Connect with Bunmi on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/bunmiemenanjo

Hey Heartful Parents! 

Today we are sharing a past interview with Melissa Griffin. Melissa was part of our Safe Parenting Summit in 2023 and as we gear up for the second annual Safe Parenting Summit I thought it would be great for you to get a sneak peek of what you can expect when you join this year’s Safe Parenting Summit.

Drawing from her years in Human Resources, Melissa "HR Mom" Griffin is passionate about the importance of raising "Real World-Ready Kids" who can successfully launch into adulthood. She uses humor and real-life examples to help parents and educators build a child's critical life skills and independence from a young age. She believes parents are most effective when they “Stop Parenting and Start Leading.”

During our conversation we explore practical strategies for guiding our kids towards independence, like role-playing and creating supportive environments for mistakes. Plus, we'll share personal stories and examples to inspire you along the way.

 By the end, you'll have actionable steps to kickstart your child's journey towards independence. And don't forget to mark your calendars for May 6-10th for the Safe Parenting Summit, where experts will share invaluable insights on raising resilient children. You can register for the Summit here: https://thesafeparentingsummit.com/waitlist/

So, stay tuned for more inspiring conversations and practical guidance on empowering your children for success. See you there, Heartful Parents!

Connect with Melissa: 

https://HRmom.com/

https://www.facebook.com/askHRmom

http://www.instagram.com/HRmom 

http://www.Patreon.com/HRmom

I had the privilege of chatting with Nancy Balin, who wears two hats: she's the Executive Director of The Family Jewels Foundation and, lucky for me, a good friend. Together, we unpacked her stepson Jamieson’s journey through Testicular Cancer—and trust me, it's a rollercoaster.

Nancy doesn't hold back - she gets real about the importance of catching this stuff early. We're talking about missed diagnoses, delayed treatment, and how it all made a difference for Jamieson's prognosis. And hey, we mix in a bit of gallows humor because life's too short not to laugh, right?

But in all seriousness, we're sending out a vital message: talk about this stuff! With your kids, your pals, or anyone with a pair of jewels. Early detection saves lives, plain and simple.

So, grab your tissues (you'll need 'em), and let's talk about the family jewels with Nancy Balin.

For more information on Testicular Cancer or the Family Jewels Foundation, click here

https://family-jewels.org/

We hear the term self-care a lot, even I talk about it in the work I do with parent coaching. How can self-care really help us be better parents? My conversation today with Siris Raquel Rivas-Verdejo gives us a glimpse into a world of how to prioritize joy and self-care, framed around her experience of growing up with two siblings with special needs.

Siris is a Family-Child coach, and she does work around the role of communication in building strong family relationships and managing the day-to-day within our family unit. She challenges us to use all of our senses when finding things that bring us joy (which is a form of self-care!), and teaching our kids to do the same. Siris and I also dig into not just communication styles, but how kids communicate with their energy and nonverbal cues. 

You can connect with Siris at her website, on her YouTube channel @sirisraquelrivasverdejo, or by emailing her: empoweringlightlanguage@gmail.com. And you can also snag a complimentary copy of her eBook Being a Different Possibility for Children: Tools to Help Children Be Successful By Accessing Their Magic and Unique Gifts HERE.

Resources:

www.empoweringlightlanguage.com

Follow Siris on YouTube - @sirisraqelrivasverdejo

Free eBook - Being a Different Possibility for Children

Email Siris - empoweringlightlanguage@gmail.com

Putting kids on social media -- is it social behavior or exploitative BS? Well it depends. And I brought in two of my favorite fellow podcasters and parent coaches to talk all about it. I welcome Casey O’Roarty and Amy Lang back to The Heartful Parent Podcast today to talk about the #Kidfluencers movement and all the things that are wrong with this use of social media to exploit children. 

This conversation is based on our joint outrage after reading the NY Times article “A Marketplace of Girl Influencers Managed by Moms and Stalked by Men.” And we’re talking about it today to help you navigate the right kind of conversations with your kid, tween, or teen around what is acceptable and “normal” on social media. We are reminding you how to stay curious and teach your kids to think critically about the “water they are swimming in.” 

We also dig into where the “line” is and Casey even wonders if she’s crossed it in some of the work she’s done that has included sharing her kids’ struggles. Catch more with Casey and Amy on their podcasts: Joyful Courage Podcast and Birds+Bees+Kids. 

In order to put a stop to this type of exploitation and child sexual abuse, talk about this topic with people you know. Better yet, pass this episode along to get more people talking! 

Resources:

NY Times article: A Marketplace of Girl Influencers Managed by Moms and Stalked by Men

Casey O’Roarty

Joyful Courage Podcast

besproutable.com/teens

www.facebook.com/joyfulcourage

IG - @joyful_courage

Amy Lang

Birds+Bees+Kids Podcast

birdsandbeesandkids.com

www.facebook.com/birdsbeeskids

IG - @birdsandbeeskids

Could you use a couple more tools in your toolbox for managing and reducing stress or shifting the energy around your parenting? My guest on this episode of The Heartful Parent Podcast is Rosalyn Acosta, an Energy Healer and Eco-Wellness Travel Planner, who is also the founder of Live, Heal, Travel. 

Rosalyn and I dive into the practice of reiki, which I know we’ve maybe heard of, but possibly don't know much about. It is the practice of using the energy in the body to heal and cleanse your chakras. She explains some mindfulness methods and demonstrates some breathing techniques that can not only help you reduce stress, but get out of a constant state of fight or flight. 

If you are interested in learning more or even booking a reiki session with Rosalyn, you can reach out to her through her website or Instagram @livehealtravel. If you mention The Heartful Parent Podcast, she has some special offers for you on reiki sessions, shamanic energy healing services, crystal reading, and help you plan an eco-wellness trip.

And if you are in need of parenting support, please reach out to me at christy@theheartfulparent.com or find me at theheartfulparent.com.

Resources:

livehealtravel.com

Rosalyn on IG - @livehealtravel

Rosalyn on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/rosalynsalters

Hey there, friends! Welcome back to the Heartful Parent Podcast, and a big warm welcome if you’re tuning in for the first time. I’m so glad you’re here! 

 Now, let’s be real—wherever you go these days, you’re probably hearing a lot about the upcoming presidential election. Whether it’s through phone alerts, social media, the news, or even in conversations with friends, politics is on everyone’s mind. And let’s face it, regardless of which side of the aisle you’re on, if you're in the U.S., you care deeply about what happens in November. Even if you're outside the U.S., you know how much this election can impact the world. 

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode:

• Why we need to start talking to our kids about politics at home.

• How to make these conversations approachable and age-appropriate.

• Surprising statistics about what adults know (or don’t know) about government.

• Practical tips for engaging your kids in discussions about civic responsibility.

Lindsey also shares her journey in creating a massive database of congressional newsletters and gives us a sneak peek into the second half of her book, which simplifies politics for parents. This episode is not only thought-provoking but also super practical. Whether you’re a political buff or someone who avoids the topic entirely, you’re going to walk away with valuable insights.

 Connect with Lindsey:

www.lindseycormack.com

www.howtoraiseacitizen.com 

@howtoraiseacitizen 

 Follow Us:

https://theheartfulparent.com/heartful-parent-academy/

Facebook: @theheartfulparent

Instagram @theheartfulparent

Welcome to the Podcast, Jonas Keating! I’m so thrilled to have my husband, one of my very favorite people, on The Heartful Parent Podcast for this episode. He is such a good sport and truly a great podcast guest! He not only answers all my questions, we even have one from our six year old, which turned out to be the hardest question for both of us. 

Jonas shares with us how parenting is different than he expected, his perspective on what makes our family work well, and what it is like being married to someone in the parenting space. He also shares his true north, what guides him as a dad and what he has learned about himself. Tiny spoiler, it’s his Harry Potter house, which also turns out to be his true north!

This is a special episode for me. It’s a little vulnerable to put my family out there this way, but it all comes from my true belief that we are not meant to do this alone. By sharing my parenting partner with you, I hope you get a glimpse into my support system. I’m here to support you, whether you have a parenting partner or not. You (& your partner) do not have to navigate your parenting journey alone. 

Reach out to me! christy@theheartfulparent.com. And if you are ready to give The Heartful Parent Academy a try, use code PODCAST to get your first month for just $7. I would love to see you there. 

Resources:

The Heartful Parent Academy

You’ve heard me say it at the start of every episode: we were never meant to do this alone. Parenting, that is. Finding the support she needed was what saved this week’s guest’s relationship with her daughters and got her on a much better path in parenting. Providencia Lopez is a former client that I had the pleasure of working with when she found herself newly sober and in a very tough spot with parenting. She knew she needed help, and she did the right thing by reaching out to find it.

Providencia and I dig into the importance of true self-care, not just getting your nails done, but going deeper into what fills your cup so you’re able to show up for your kids. We also touch on how to build connection with your kids (and your partner if you have one) and how to truly repair when we’ve screwed up with our kids, our partner, or even the employee at Forever 21.

Providencia gets real and vulnerable in this episode, and I appreciate her willingness to share her journey so we can really share the message that we all need support. It is truly my pleasure that I got to be part of her parenting journey. She has come leaps and bounds since I first assigned her to hug her daughter as homework in her first coaching session. 

If you need some support, reach out to me! I would love to hear from you christy@theheartfulparent.com or see you in The Heartful Parent Academy. It might just be the community of support that makes the difference for you in your parenting, partnering, or even your professional life.

Resources:

Healing Your Providence on IG - @healingyourprovidence

Providencia on IG - @provi3010

First of all, I’m so grateful to all of you, Listeners, for being on the podcast journey with me for one full year of episodes! I’m proud of the episodes I’ve been able to bring you and have so much more to offer. Today’s guest is no exception. I am thrilled to have Lori Sugarman-Li, a fellow Certified Fair Play Facilitator and Family Coach, join me for a great conversation today.

We dig into the value of unpaid work. And if you are a parent, you are doing unpaid work. Even if parenting is not your only job. Not only is Lori a great advocate for starting the conversation around the value of this work, she has great ideas for how to get into Family Flow. This means making the invisible work more visible, getting your kids involved in “chores” in a way that makes sense to them, and shifting the energy around these undesirable tasks. 

This is not easy work, and if you find yourself in need of support, I would love to see you in The Heartful Parent Academy! You can use code PODCAST to get your first month for just $7.

And finally, in the interest of keeping The Heartful Parent Podcast going strong, please share this episode with someone who might also need to feel valued in the unpaid work they are doing. A 5 star rating along with a review is also helpful, and greatly appreciated!

Resources:

Our Home: The Love, Work, and Heart of Family by Lori Sugarman-Li

ourhomeourpride.com

Lori on IG - @ourhomeourpride

I don’t get paid. So what am I Worth? by Lori Sugarman-Li [LinkedIn. April 5th, 2021]

Want Great Women Leaders? Help Men Be Better Fathers. by Avivah Wittenberg-Cox [Forbes. June 15, 2021]

The Heartful Parent Academy

Do you know any narcissists? If you do, I’m sure just reading or hearing that word triggers a reaction in you. Did you know there is actually healthy narcissism? Now, before you skip past this episode because of the word narcissism, please hear me when I say you will find the conversation in this episode more fascinating and applicable than you probably expect. I sure did. 

Dr. Mary Ann Little is my guest for this episode, and she is a clinical psychologist with years of experience in private practice and has written books about parenting and children including the book we’re talking about today, Childhood Narcissism: Strategies to Raise Unselfish, Unentitled, Empathetic Children.  Who doesn’t want their children to be generous, well-rounded, and empathetic?! 

Dr. Little and I dig into successfully developing the four structures in parenting that will protect against narcissism in your child. She also describes how to find moderation in your parenting with your child’s concept of self, emotional regulation, ability to accurately perceive, and positive modeling of love and relationships. So many good gems in this conversation. 

If you would like to connect with Dr. Mary Ann Little, you can visit her website, drmaryannlittle.com, or find her on Social Media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram

If you find yourself nodding along at any point in this episode, please share it with another parent who might find it useful. Then drop a rating and review so we can reach even more parents who might need support.

Resources:

Childhood Narcissism by Dr. Mary Ann Little

drmaryannlittle.com

Dr. Little on Twitter - twitter.com/drmaryannlittle

Dr. Little on Facebook - Dr. Mary Ann Little, author

Dr. Little on Instagram - @drmaryannlittle

Did you know that feng shui is the art of creating a harmonious and healthy home? You might be a skeptic, and that is okay. But if you stop and think about it, your relationship with your space (home, office, bedroom, etc) impacts everything.

Maybe it’s hard to relax with a lot of clutter. Maybe you can’t unwind in your bedroom because it’s also your office. Maybe your kitchen table is full of kids’ homework and papers to look over. All of this is impacting the energy of your day to day routines. 

Feng Shui Expert Patricia Lohan is my guest today and she is sharing how to bring harmony into our homes and enhance our relationships by embracing a few new techniques within your spaces. In this episode, Patricia and I dig into how the flow of your home impacts your overall energy and atmosphere. 

Patricia gives us a few practical recommendations for how to begin to feng shui your kids’ room, your main living areas, and your bedroom. And she gives three very doable suggestions for how to truly shift the energy in your home right away. If you are as intrigued as me after you listen, check out Patricia’s $9 mini course that you can access from her website. 

I would love to hear from you about this episode or if you find yourself in need of support along your parenting journey. Email me christy@theheartfulparent.com or visit theheartfulparent.com to find out about more. 

Resources:

patricialohan.com

Feng Shui 101 - $9 mini course

Patricia on YouTube - @PatriciaLohan

Patricia on IG - @powerhousefengshui

Patricia on FB - PatriciaLohan.RestoringYouBack.ToHarmony

Most of us wonder what we can do to raise happy, successful kids; the answers aren’t always obvious or easy! 

In this solo episode, we are digging into what the research shows about raising securely attached kiddos who thrive socially, emotionally, and cognitively from preschool through adulthood.

Not surprisingly, perhaps, the answer starts with us: how we show up is key. 

To help parents do that well, we’re talking today about the 4 S’s, which were developed through the brilliant work of Drs. Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson . 

The 4 S’s are a beautiful framework for thinking about what’s important and how we show up,  and provides parents with some clear, concrete strategies for ensuring that we are parenting with presence and connection. 

We can all help our children feel Safe, Seen, Soothed, and Secure; I’m sharing why it’s important, how to do it, and some successes and learning moments for me as a mom. 

As always, I would love to support you. If you need help with the 4 S’s or anything else in parenting, please reach out christy@theheartfulparent.com or come see how The Heartful Parent Academy can give you the support and sense of community you might need. 

Resources:
The Power of Showing Up by Dr. Dan Siegel and Dr. Tina Bryson

Can you relate to feeling angry, exhausted, overwhelmed? I’m betting every parent has! And maybe you’ve even lost it on your kids or your partner. Cue the shame spiral. We’ve truly all been there, but we can’t let our shame get the best of us!

On this episode, I have the pleasure of talking about all things overwhelmed, angry, and exhausted with Emily Hughes, a Conscious Parent Coach, Somatic Therapist, and mom of two. She and I both share pretty vulnerable stories about times we’ve had all-out-rage just take over. Again, cue shame spiral. Like I said, we’ve ALL been there!

Here is the good part! Emily and I dig into not only when this happens, but why. She shares all about the role of shame and how it could be contributing to anger and reactivity in your parenting. And she also shares how we can get back into our bodies in these moments to begin to break that cycle. Emily also explains how getting clear on your values might explain some of the anger you are experiencing. 

This is a great conversion for anyone who feels stuck in their angry, exhausted, and overwhelmed state and wants to get unstuck. And I walked away feeling so much more seen and understood, and much less alone in some of those tough emotions.

You can connect with Emily for more support or you can reach out to me! I would love to hear from you christy@theheartfulparent.com. If you sign up for my newsletter, you’ll get great resources and tips delivered right to your inbox each week! Sign up HERE.

Resources:

findingflowparenting.coach

Emily on IG - @findingflowparenting

Emily on Facebook - facebook.com/FindingFlowParenting

FREE Masterclass - Stop Yelling and Start Thriving

Sugar Dating?? Have you heard of this? If you have a teen, tween, young adult, or someone who is going to grow into one, you’ll want to hear this! My good friends and colleagues, Amy Lang and Casey O’Roarty, and I are talking about something just a little disturbing today, and that is the concept of Sugar Dating. 

We dig into what it is exactly, how it is being facilitated through the internet, why adolescent brains are NOT equipped to really understand the reality of this, and finally how and when to talk to your kids about these types of topics. Even if it’s not sugar dating, we can’t wait until our kids hit their late teen years to begin these conversations.  We have to start framing how they think about sex and relationships much earlier. 

We cannot control (unfortunately) what they think and the actions they will ultimately take, but we CAN ask the right questions in order to help start framing how they think about sex and relationships. Casey, Amy, and myself are telling you what questions to ask and when to start asking them so you can pave the way for your teen/tweens’ underdeveloped brains to THINK about things like how sugar dating fits into the picture of a healthy relationship. 

Quick disclaimer: This is an episode that aired on Casey O’Roarty’s Joyful Courage Podcast in December of 2023. It is such an important topic and great conversation, I decided to share it here too. 

To learn more about all the fabulous work that Casey and Amy do, you can catch their podcasts or visit each of their websites (links are listed below). 

And if you are in a place where you could use some parenting support or are part of an organization that could use some parenting education around brain or body safety, please reach out to me christy@theheartfulparent.com or visit my website: theheartfulparent.com.

Resources:

Casey O’Roarty

Joyful Courage Podcast

besproutable.com/teens

www.facebook.com/joyfulcourage

IG - @joyful_courage

Amy Lang

Birds+Bees+Kids Podcast

birdsandbeesandkids.com

www.facebook.com/birdsbeeskids

IG - @birdsandbeeskids

Parenting is hard, and I strongly believe we are not meant to do it alone. In this episode of The Heartful Parent Podcast, Mara Berrios and Mayna McVey join me for a powerful conversation about the reality and challenges that come with parenting a child with a rare condition and/or with special needs. 

Mayna’s nine year old daughter is diagnosed with Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis (CRMO) and Mara’s four year old son is diagnosed with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) and also, more recently, has been identified on the autism spectrum. 

Mara and Mayna share their journeys to diagnoses for these conditions with their kiddos. They also talk about all the emotions that need a place and some space in parenthood, including loneliness, grief, joy at odd times, and rage.

I have had the absolute pleasure of working with both these moms in The Heartful Parent Academy, and I am so grateful they are sharing their stories and how they build their village to be able to move through each of their difficult parenting journeys. 

If you are in a place where building a village could help you with some of your challenges as a parent, with your partner, or in your professional life, I would love to see you in the Academy! Use code PODCAST to get your first month for only $7 

Resources:

tiltparenting.com/tilt-parenting-roadmap

www.seattlechildrens.org/clinics/biofeedback/patient-family-resources

neurodivergentinsights.com/resources

www.understood.org/articles/adhd-explained-a-28-minute-primer

theheartfulparent.com/heartful-parent-academy

Bardet-Biedl Syndrome: 

www.marshfieldclinic.org/services/bardet-biedl-syndrome

www.bardetbiedl.org

Autism:

tacanow.org

CRMO:

www.seattlechildrens.org/clinics/chronic-recurrent-multifocal-osteomyelitis-program

give.seattlechildrens.org/campaign/crmo-warriors-guild/c467210

Helpful Episodes:

Episode 5: Unpacking the Emotions of Parenthood with Wendy Sloneker

Episode 6: Heartful Parenting Practice: Family Meetings

New Year's resolutions are not really my thing, but I do like a reset around this time of year. So as we start 2024, I’m asking these questions (for myself and for you):

What do you want for yourself, as a parent, professional, a friend, a human?

What do you want for your partnership (if you’re parenting with a partner)?

What will make 2024 feel like a success to you? 

And what are you willing to do to get the things you want? 

With these questions in mind, I offer you my ingredients that make up my Recipe for a Good Life.  Some of these are my own gems of wisdom and some I got from other people who have positively impacted my own life. Just like with any new recipes you try, you might make some tweaks or changes, but this is a good place to start.

Happy New Year! 

If you are finding yourself struggling with how to build a Recipe for a Good Life, I would love to support you. Reach out to me christy@theheartfulparen.com or consider joining The Heartful Parent Academy. It can be a great place to find the support that will help you have that good life.

If you’ve got a middle schooler, high schooler, or a kid heading off to college, this one’s for you. And if you’re feeling that mix of pride and panic as they head off into the world, you’re in the right place. Today, I’m chatting with Carrie Pasquarello, the amazing CEO and co-founder of Global Secure Resources, Inc. Carrie’s all about helping parents keep their kids safe at college and when studying abroad—definitely a topic close to many of our hearts.

Carrie has a fascinating background as a victim advocate and has worked with the State Department. She’s turned all that experience into a mission to help families like ours navigate safety. From must-have conversations with your kids to practical tips like dorm room safety (did you ever think about the importance of bed railings? Neither did I!), Carrie’s got us covered. She also wrote a fantastic book called Study Abroad Safety: A Parent’s Guide to Sending Your Child Abroad, which is packed with insights to help us sleep a little better at night while our kids are off exploring the world.

This conversation is filled with valuable tips, whether your kiddo is about to start college or you just want to be prepared for the future. Carrie’s passion for this topic shines through, and I think you’ll walk away feeling a lot more confident about keeping your child safe as they step into this next chapter of their life.

Key Takeaways:

• Carrie Pasquarello shares her journey and expertise in safety and security.

• The crucial safety conversations you should have with your child before they head to college.

• Practical dorm room safety tips and products you might not have considered.

• Essential advice for keeping your child safe while studying abroad.

Resources Mentioned:- Study Abroad Safety: A Parent’s Guide to Sending Your Child Abroad by Carrie Pasquarello.

- Global Secure Resources, Inc. https://www.globalsecurestudent.com/ https://globalsecureresources.com/ 

- Have a parenting question? Email Christy: christy@theheartfulparent.com

Thanks for tuning in! I can’t wait to chat with you again next week on the Heartful Parent Podcast!

Follow Us:

https://theheartfulparent.com/heartful-parent-academy/

Facebook: @theheartfulparent

Instagram @theheartfulparent

Subscribe & Leave a Review: Don’t forget to subscribe to The Heartful Parent Podcast and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!

Stay tuned for more Heartful conversations on parenting, love, and inclusivity. Thank you for listening!

Did you know that emotional intelligence, over IQ, is more predictive of success in careers and relationships? There are four important elements of emotional intelligence, and my guest today, Dr. Joanne Light, is going to dig into each of them.

Joanne is an Parent Empowerment coach along with being a mother and grandmother. She is also a retired college administrator and counselor with experience in education, counseling, and life coaching. She has a lot of insight and a great perspective on reframing how we’re thinking about and incorporating emotional intelligence with our kids and teens. 

My conversation with Joanne centers around what we mean, exactly, when we say ‘emotional intelligence’, what the four elements of emotional intelligence are, and how to use what we know about emotional intelligence to raise competent, contributing, compassionate children into adults. The theme of wanting something versus being willing to do it also runs throughout our conversation.  

Dr. Joanne Light can be found on her website joannehlight.com where you can download her FREE guide, 5 Tips to Overcoming Parent Burnout.

Resources:

No Problem Parenting: Raising Your Kids with More Confidence and Less Fear

FREE Download: 5 Tips to Overcoming Parent Burnout

It’s Not About the Nail - video

IG - @light_joanne_empathy

Facebook - Joanne H Light Coaching

Do your kids listen?! I’m guessing you’ve had moments where you feel so frustrated that they just aren’t listening! My guest for this episode is Tehmina Fahad, who is a fellow parent coach and mom, focuses her work on overcoming challenging behaviors to feel more calm and connected to our kids. 

Tehmina and I explore the fact that no matter where we live and are parenting from, we are all trying to accomplish the same thing with our kids. Today she shares insight into why kids don’t really listen and techniques to help make it better for you and your kids. 

Her acronym, (and I love a good acronym) D.E.A.L., will be one that sticks with you because it’s easy and simple, and it will make a big difference. And you can start using it right away, TODAY, with your kids!

Tehmina is doing great work in the parenting space. If you would like to learn more or check out her offerings, you can find her on Instagram @parentingupsanddowns, Facebook facebook.com/digitalparentng, or check out her website parentingupsanddowns.com.

I’m so grateful you’re here, and if you have found this episode or any other helpful, please take just a moment to drop a rating and review. My mission is to make sure no one parents alone, so the more we can get all these great interviews out into the world, the better off we’ll all be. 

 Resources:

parentingupsanddowns.com

Tehmina Fahad on IG @parentingupsanddowns

Tehmina Fahad on Facebook facebook.com/digitalparentng

We want our kids to follow their dreams, explore their passions, and show gratitude. But if you’ve ever tried talking to your teens about these topics, or asked questions to guide their thinking, it may not have landed as well as you’d hoped.

So how do we teach these things to our teens and make sure it sticks? Inspirational Author, and Podcast host, Ed Gerety, has some valuable insight into how to reach our teens with these life lessons. Ed is sharing some of the gems from his book Shine Your Light: Navigate Your Way to a Life You Love. 

Ed’s book frames a thought provoking conversation, gratitude, kindness, self-confidence, goal setting, and staying curious with our teens. Ed encourages us to lead by example, and shine our light on these values. By doing so, we make space to invite more of each of them into our lives, instead of getting a classic eye roll or “I don’t know” from our teens. 

Connect with Ed on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and his website. 

I hope you’ll share this episode with fellow parents. We are not meant to parent alone, and by sharing valuable information we can support each other. If you are in a place where some one-on-one coaching or The Heartful Parent Academy membership could be the support you need, please reach out! For the Academy, use the code PODCAST to get your first month for only $7. I would love to see you there!

Resources:

www.edgerety.com

Ed Gerety on Facebook

Ed Gerety on LinkedIn

Ed Gerety on Instagram

Ed Gerety on Twitter

Ed Gerety's YouTube channel

Some Good News with John Krasinski

Teri Schmidt defines leadership as “courageously using your talents as a way for others to courageously use theirs”, and I have to say that is a nice picture of leadership. Teri is a repeat guest on The Heartful Parent Podcast, and she is back to not only define servant leadership, she is here to teach us how to become strong leaders. 

Imposter syndrome is real, and the world has unfortunately conditioned us to think of leaders a certain way. Teri reframes this for us, and explains how our identities can become tied up into the “Drama Triangle”. In this representation, we can get a little bit stuck in the role of hero/rescuer, villain, and/or victim.  

Teri and I dig into misinterpretations of leadership and how to recognize and function within the role that we gravitate towards. There are so many parallels between taking a leadership role in the workplace and parenting. We want you to be able to tap into your talents to excel at both. 

If you missed Teri’s first time on the podcast, make sure to go check out Episode 8: Growing in Our Leadership at Home and at Work. 

Resources:

Episode 8: Growing in Our Leadership at Home and at Work 

Teri Schmidt LinkedIn

Serve and Thrive Leadership Assessment

www.strongertoserve.com

We are back for the second half of the ‘mealtime battles’ conversation with my good friend and colleague Christine Muenz. If you missed part on, go check it out Eliminating Mealtime Battles––Part 1. 

In this episode, I’m firing all my feeding, food, and mealtime questions at Christine. And she offers her thought provoking perspective on how mealtimes can play out on a daily basis. She shares how some of the philosophies that we use to feed our infants can transfer to feed our toddlers, children, and teens. And she talks about how we can maybe improve the choices we make around food and our bodies can keep us rooted in mutual respect with our kids and connection with our families. 

Since Christine is now officially a “Friend of the Pod”, you will definitely hear more from her in the future. In the meantime, keep track of her new offerings on her website christinemuenz.com. 

And I would love to hear from you! Drop a review or send me an email christy@thehearfulparent.com. And if you know another parent who has mealtime battles, and I’m guessing you can name a few, share part 1 and part 2 with them. We are not meant to do this alone! 

Resources:

christinemuenz.com

Follow Christine on IG - @strengthandsurrender

If you celebrate, Happy Thanksgiving! Whether or not you celebrate, I’m still glad you are all here to dig into the benefits of inviting more gratitude into your life daily, weekly, and beyond. 

In this episode, I’m giving you the numbers of how an active gratitude practice benefits your emotional and social wellbeing and helps you get the D.O.S.E. chemicals that benefit your overall physical health. 

BUT not all gratitude practices are created equal! While even just listing things you are grateful for can benefit your overall health, today I’m sharing some ways to take your gratitude practice a little deeper. And I’m giving you some ideas of things you could do to help deepen the connection you have with your family by inviting more gratitude into your lives. 

This conversation is a great example of the deep dives I do with The Heartful Parent Academy. If you are in a place where that type of support is what you need, I would love to see you in the Academy. Use code TRIAL7 to get your first month for only $7. This will give you the chance to try out all the support I offer and dip into all the newly created content that is licensed by the Positive Discipline Association. I really hope to see you there!

Meanwhile, please drop me a line to tell me how you’re inviting more gratitude into your life, christy@theheartfulparent.com. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode! 

Resources:

Episode 6: Heartful Parenting Practice: Family Meetings

Do you have mealtime battles in your house?  Most parents do, because there are a lot of confusing resources out there, and because most of us got some messed up ideas about food from how we were raised.  So to dig into this, I have my good friend and mentor Christine Muenz on the podcast to share her deep wisdom.  

Christine is a parenting educator, lactation educator, and an infant feeding specialist. She teaches parenting classes at hospitals in the Seattle area and lectures at conferences for professionals who work with families in the stages of pregnancy and postpartum. And she is joining me for a two-part conversation on eliminating mealtime battles. *SIGH OF RELIEF*

In this part of our conversation, Christine and I dig into the way we feed our children as infants and how this changes as kids grow and get older. And the decisions we make and the battles we pick can have unintended effects with our kids and in our families. Christine is not only the  ‘wisdom keeper’ on this topic, she offers a perspective that will truly change how mealtimes play out and help you focus on connection with your family. 

Christine is beginning to have all sorts of new offerings, so keep checking back to her website to see what’s coming! christinemuenz.com

Come back in two weeks for the second part of this conversation. And if you need support in the meantime, reach out! I would love to hear from you chrisy@theheartfulparent.com or see you in The Heartful Parent Academy (use code PODCAST to get your first month for only $7). 

Resources:

christinemuenz.com

Follow Christine on IG - @strengthandsurrender

Have you ever tried to meditate and thought to yourself, I must be doing it wrong. I know I have. But Aparna Venkataraman, founder of Beauty In Parenting, helps us all feel like we can actually benefit from meditation and breathwork practice; she makes it feel accessible for both yourself and your kids. 

Aparna has a warm and approachable nature and offers her guiding hand to help us use meditation and breathwork to empower ourselves in building healthy relationships with one another through effective communication, creating boundaries, self-care, building confidence, and lighthearted mindfulness techniques. 

You’ll walk away from this episode with 3 different breathwork practices that you can start using for yourself and your kids today. And the best part is Aparna walks us through each of them during this episode! I know I felt more centered and grounded after this episode, and I hope you will too! 

Aparna is offering a live masterclass on November 15: 

Self-Regulation Skills & Deep Breathing: beautyinparenting.com/booknow/masterclass 

(Class will be recorded.) 

Resources: 

www.beautyinparenting.com

facebook.com/beautyinparenting

IG-@beautyinparenting

Self-care & priorities download

I love Halloween! We get to dress up and pretend. It's great for building community and connecting with our neighbors. If you celebrate, it is a lighthearted, low prep holiday. And… I’m all about safety, so let’s talk about safety on Halloween. 

However, I bet my list will surprise you! I’m not going to tell you to inspect your kids' candy or follow them around the neighborhood. I’m going to explain the three main myths around Halloween safety and give a couple practical tips that will help you have fun and stay safe. 

So, let’s bust some Halloween myths and talk about what we need to do to ACTUALLY keep our kids safe on Halloween. 

Keating Family (No Kids) Pumpkin Carving: 

Resources: 

Episode 25: Heartful Parenting Practice: STOP saying “Stranger Danger”

Episode 26: Strangers Aren’t the Problem with Dr. Paul Renfro

Work-life balance is one of the biggest challenges in parenting. On this episode of The Heartful Parent Podcast, Wendy S. Meadows joins me to dig into what to do when you are overwhelmed, burned out, and you are stuck, feeling frustrated, and so tired day in and day out. 

Wendy brings not only her expertise as a mom and best-selling author into this conversation, she is a certified Life Coach, Family Law Mediator, and Parent Coordinator. Her background in family law paved the way for this new path, where she uses her combined experience to offer highly relatable and spot-on insight into your biggest challenges as a parent.

Wendy shares her personal and professional journey, the idea behind her book Sparkle and GRIT, and how being mindful of the sparkles can put you on the path to wake up and find the balance you need. 

Wendy and I are in total agreement that the journey of parenting is not meant to be navigated alone. Connect with Wendy on Instagram (@wendy_s_meadows or @sparkle_and_grit), LinkedIn, or on her website wendysmeadows.com. 

I would love to tell you more about all the support I offer through The Heartful Parent Academy. Use code PODCAST to get your first month for $7! Visit my website: theheartfulparent.com or send me an email christy@theheartfulparent.com. 

Sign up for HERE to get resources from me delivered right to your inbox! You really are not meant to do this alone!

Resources:

Sparkle & Grit by Wendy S. Meadows

Journal Page Freebie from Wendy

wendysmeadows.com

@wendy_s_meadows

@sparkle_and_grit

LinkedIn

In this episode, I’m thrilled to introduce you to Dr. Melanie McNally. We crossed paths a few months ago through mutual contact, and from our very first conversation, I knew we were on the same page about how to best support parents and their teenagers. But here’s the thing—while Dr. McNally’s work focuses on parents of tweens and teens, there’s a ton of value here for parents with younger kids too. We talk a lot on this show about parenting with the end in mind, and this episode is a perfect example of why that’s so important.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

BOOKS:

Melanie’s book: Helping Your Unmotivated Teen: A Parent’s Guide to Unlock Your Child’s Potential https://amzn.to/3AsC96Y

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt: https://amzn.to/4doaAKJ

iGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy—And Completely Unprepared for Adulthood (and What that Means for the Rest of Us) by Jean m. Twenge, Ph.D  https://amzn.to/3WUqWDR

The New Adolescence: Raising Happy and Successful Teens in an Age of Anxiety and Distraction by Christine Carter PhD https://amzn.to/3YVqNTg

GIVEAWAY LINK: https://www.destinationyou.net/podcast-giveaway

Facebook: @theheartfulparent

Instagram @theheartfulparent

My friend and colleague, Lihi Netzer joins me on the podcast today. Lihi is a fellow Positive Discipline Educator and Parent Coach. She focuses her work on pre-teens and teens struggling with social emotional challenges. Today, Lihi is here for a different reason. 

Lihi lives in Tel Aviv, Israel and she is sharing her personal account of living and parenting through the events that happened in Israel on October 6 & 7, 2023. Lihi not only shares her story, but also talks about parenting her own 10 & 13 year olds during a very scary time. All of this through the lens of her expertise as a Parent Coach and a Life Coach for teens and pre-teens. 

Lihi’s story and perspective are inspiring. She talks about strength versus resilience. She speaks about how to secure the connection with your kids before the hard conversations can even begin. And she gets very raw and real about what it was like during and after the attacks, as a person, as a parent, and as someone who supports other parents and teens.

The T.A.L.K. S.C.A.R.E.D.© Framework I shared on Episode 35 of the podcast can be a starting point for talking to your own kids. But, please reach out if you need support. You can find me on my website, theheartfulparent.com or send me an email christy@theheartfulparent.com.

Resources:

T.A.L.K. S.C.A.R.E.D.© Framework

When the world is scary, how do we parent? You might find yourself thinking, I want to talk to my kids about [insert scary or unsettling world thing], but I don’t know how. Maybe you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, scared, or triggered yourself. 

This episode is all about the Heartful Parenting Practice of using T.A.L.K. S.C.A.R.E.D.© This is a universal framework that you can use to talk to your kids when you don’t know how to talk to them about difficult things. This helpful acronym is an approach in helping your kids have the space to feel, understand, ask questions, and feel a little safer in the face of something scary. 

Get the download to start using T.A.L.K. S.C.A.R.E.D.© with current world events, or any other difficult things happening in your own community. 

Hint: the “D” in the acronym stands for Don’t Parent Alone, so if you need support, reach out to me christy@theheartfulparent.com. 

You can also sign up for my newsletter where you get resources delivered right to your inbox. Sign up HERE.

Resources:

T.A.L.K. S.C.A.R.E.D.© download

My friend and colleague Jo Langford joins me on The Heartful Parent Podcast today! Jo is a dad, a Master’s-level therapist, an author, and a sex educator for tweens, teens and parents. He is here today to tell us all about his new editions of his Spare Me the Talk book series. 

If you know a 12-22 year old, then you need to hear all about these books.. The books (along with Jo’s other work) focus on the “messes” that happen when you smash together adolescence, sexuality, technology and the world we live in. Jo sets out to give factual and relevant information in easily digestible chunks to the kids who are at this intersection in their lives. And I have to say, I love it! 

Jo and I dig into not only what he has put into the new additions of his books, but also why these additional topics are so important. We talk about how much the world has changed in the last 10 years and why it's so hard to be a parent and a kid now.

You can find out more about Jo’s work to promote healthy, positive and safe sexual and social behavior can be found at his website: beheroes.net. 

Please share this episode with at least one parent who has a 12-22 year old–– I’m a firm believer in the importance of finding the help and support you need on your parenting journey. And I would love to see you in The Heartful Parent Academy. You can get your first month for only $7! Sign up HERE and use coupon code PODCAST.

Resources:

Spare Me The Talk (Girls) by Jo Langford, M.A. 

Spare Me The Talk (Boys) by Jo Langford, M.A.

The Pride Guide by Jo Langford

beheroes.net

The Heartful Parent Academy

I’m getting raw and real with you again today. I’m sharing a story that while, yes, it’s a first world problem, it was also an opportunity for self-reflection. It was brought about by an extremely disappointing weekend.  And disappointment is something our kids feel too, even when we don’t totally agree with them.

Often, it is necessary to make space for feeling all the feelings, for us and our kids. In my case, it was uncomfortable, but quite necessary, to just let it play out–to give myself space to feel my feelings.. It can be equally uncomfortable to watch our kids deal with tough emotions, but it is necessary for them to have the space to feel their feelings and let them play out too. 

So my invitation for you today is to join me in some self-reflection. When unpleasant feelings or emotions come up for us, how do we handle it? And when they come up for our kiddos, how do we handle it and/or help them handle it? 

Are you in a place where you could use some support as you navigate parenting, partnering, and your professional life? Sign up to get resources from me delivered right to your inbox! 

And since I strongly believe we should not do this alone, please share any episode of The Heartful Parent Podcast with two people you know. We can spread the word on Heartful Parenting and support each other in the process.

Resources:

Permission to Feel by Dr. Mark Brackett